Sheet-delivery apparatus for printing-machines.



G. P. FENNER.

SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 12, 1908.

913,631. Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY G. P. FENNER.

SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1908. 91 3,631 Patented Feb. 23, 1909. 9 sums-sum 2.

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Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING. MACHINES. APPLICATION HLE'D MAY 12,1908.

91 3,631 v Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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ATTORNEY,

G. P. FENNBR.

SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1908. 91 3 ,63 1 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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APIPLIOAITION nun MAY 12, 1909.

Patented Fab. 23, 1909.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1m: NORRIS psrzns co., wAsnmcrom-m t.

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SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

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Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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INVENTOR aeoryePiZn ner BY I ATTORNEY G. P. PENNER. SHEET DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES. APPLIOATION FILEDMAY 12, 1908.

91 3,631 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR W Geogeffin'ner W Wea /m ATTORNEY UNITED STATES. PATENT o FIoEQ GEORGE P. FENNER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

SHEET-DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. FENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Delivery A paratus for Printing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an arrangement for using continuous solid apron in place of tapes as formerly shown for example in U. S. Patents 335,066, of 1886, 506,990, of 1893, or 719,317, of 1903.

The object of this apron is to make a smooth, unbroken surface for receiving the printed sheet from the cylinder. This smooth surface also prevents the sheet from being easily moved in the process of delivery by gusts of air. The corners of the sheet can not be caught as with tapes.

It is frequently desirable to run in the margins of the sheet a wheel in which case the I unbroken surface of the apron gives room for the wheel tobe set at any point. I have also found that a continuous apron of this sort never needs adjustment and is not liable to break. It requires no attention by the operator.

This invention is set forth in the following specification and claim and illustrated in the annexed drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a delivery apparatus embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a section along x m Fig. 2. Figs. 1 and 5 are side elevations of Fig. 2 on a larger scale. The remaining figures show modifications hereinafter explained.

In the drawing is shown an apron a pass 'ing about rollers as known. A rollenor idler b on the tape carriage sustains the apron when the carriage is at the extreme forward position and thus prevents sag and also prevents the two portions of the apron from rubbing together as these two portions at the point of contact with the roller 1) are moved -in opposite directions and the clips 0 would antagonize each other if they were allowed to touch.

To insure the apron running smoothly and in line I attach to each side a row of clips like 0. Through these I run a round leather belt 1) which has independent motion, endwise. That is: it runs at a different speed from the apron, because of the fact it runs in flanged pulleys c. It is not necessary Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 12, 1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 432,478.

that a round leather belt be used, as for instance a chain has the same effect, or a flat belt might be used, but the independent action is desirable, otherwise the leather belt will travel at a different speed from the cloth apron, as it is difficult in any case to make leather and cloth travel in unison,

even if the rolls were of the same diameter because the leather has more friction and adheres to the rolls better than the cloth. This draws the apron out of alinement and tends to make it wrinkle. An object of the belt is to depress into the flanged pulleys at the end of the rollers the metal clips 0 which are attached to the edge of the apron, and these metal clips 0 hold the apron in alinement. Another object of the independent charactor of the belt on the edge of the apron is the fact that the belt may stretch faster or slower than the cloth. In such a case it is entirely feasible to change the length of the belt without changing the length of the apron, or vice versa. There is shown an arrangement of springs k by which the roller (1 is pressed into the bight of the apron and thus keeps it tight under all conditions and allows for atmospheric changes. The flanged wheels on the ends of the rollers, as shown at e are adjustable endwise to take up slackness in the apron crosswise the press and also to prevent excessive stretching in the apron. That is: the moving of these flanged wheels endwise on the shaft brings the strain in the apron crosswise the press, and this crosswise strain prevents undue stretching lengthwise. Another feature is the portion of the apron between points ff may be removed, if in the course of time the stretch of the apron is such that it seems necessary. The ends of the apron instead of being sewed solidly together are attached by hooks, amounting virtually to a hinge. The automatic spring tightener arrangement can move 'the roller cl through the length of the slotsd. l/Vhen the bracket which raises the roller d is moved until the bolts are in the ends of the slots of d as shown in the drawing, further action by the tension springs is impossible. By removing the section of the apron between hinges or points ff the bracket would be moved on the bolts so that the bolts would be in the opposite ends of the slots, in which case the tension springs would again have control of the tension of the apron.

It is obvious that hinges at the points f f might be replaced with lacing, or something of that sort. But it is desirable to be able to shorten the apron or lengthen it without resorting to sewing, which is inconvenient and undesirable for the average operator. The apron is of one continuous piece, except at the points ff thus leaving a smooth unbroken surface in its'entire surface for the receiving of the sheet. An apron made up of pieces sewed together is liable to come apart by the stitches wearing off and the rough surface of the apron at the hems is undesirable, as such unevenness has a tendency to move the sheet on the apron when the sheet is running off the cylinder. By means of this device a receiving surface is obtained absolutely uniform and smooth. The rollers or wheels h as stated can be set or adjusted to run in the margins of the sheet. Two wheels 77. are shown but one only can be employed if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows. The apron carriage m is reciprocated by any suitable mechanism along tracks n. The carriage has rollers (Z and p. A ratchet and pawl allows one of these rollers to turn in but one direction. Outside of the carriage on the fixed frame of the machine are two rollers g and r. The roller q can rotate in but one direction while roller 1* can rotate either forward or backward. As the carriage m moves forward it carries the top stretch of the apron forward. On the return of the carriage the roller p rotating in the direction in which it is free allows the stretch of apron immediately under the top to wind the top stretch back about such roller "9. The spring 7c can be steadied by sitting l oosely about a rod 3 which can move longitudinally and be pressed by said spring against the roller (Z. The pulleys e can be adjusted endwise on the shaft and clamped in place by screw 25 (Fig. 3).

The device can be modified. In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a side elevation and in Figs. 8 and 9 a plan view of a machine embodying this invention and provided with a wire or series of wires 2. To each such wire at the end toward the impression cylinder is pivoted a flat piece of metal 3. As the sheet leaves the cylinder this pivoted piece or finger runs in the margins between the printed pages and helps to maintain a close contact between the sheet and the delivery apron, thus preventing the sheet from sliding or floating on the apron. At the front end of the delivery carriage attached to the same bracket 7 with the end of the wires 2 are two wheels 4 with rubber tires or faces. These wheels also run in the margins and are held down by gravity. If it is desired to adjust or remove the wires 2 it is simply necessary to relax the set screw 5 and the whole operation of adjusting can be done at the front of the press, because this wire 2 at its rear art hooks around a carriage shaft or shaft of the carriage wheel. The bracket 7 is secured by clamp screw 8. The screws 5 and 8 show clearly in' Fig. 10 which is a section along 1 1 Fig. 9. The object of the wires 2is to keep the sheet from blowing up and the rubber faced wheels insure its running off the delivery carriage in uniformity with the apron. The whole mechanism is a simple, convenient and easily adjusted device.

Another modification comprises a shoe 6 which passes partially around the grooved wheel which carries the round belt and the clips on the edge of the apron. If the round belt should break and thus cease to control the action of the clips, that is, cease to draw these clips into the grooved wheels the apron would immediately begin to run off. This shoe 6 is an auxiliary attachment which would control the clips by forcing them into the grooved wheels, the same as the round belt does. It might even be possible to continue running indefinitely without the round belt by the use of the shoe 6 but round belt adds stability and strength to the edge of the apron which is liable to get stretched out or to be slack. This shoe 6 can be pivoted a suitable point on the carriage m and made to pass over or about the roll p on such carriage. Such shoe or a like one could be applied about roller (1 but it is thought preferable to apply the shoe to front carriage roller p.

11 is a section along line 2 2 6 and the Figs. 6 and 7 show another modification for keeping the belt in place. On the end of roller g which carries the apron is mounted a gear 9 which meshes into another gear 10. The latter drives the hem of the apron instead of running in the clips. This would not be as durable an arrangement or work so smoothly as the present method but with the geared and scored pulleys like .2 and 12 such a belt mi ht be made to run satisfactorily even if it were simply stitched to the edge of the apron. Furthermore, this invention includes the idler roll 6 without regard to whether it travels back and forth with the carriage or not, Fig. 10. For instance the roller d Fig. 2 might be set lower down, that is if the roller q next to the cylinder were made somewhat larger in which case the idler roller 1) could be located permanently tothe frame of the machine at a point which this roller reaches when it is in its extreme forward position. This would accomplish the same purpose, practically that is now accomplished and would not reciprocate with the carriage. This idler roller 7) can move in conjunction with either side of the apron or can be set permanently on the frame of the machine. 11 any case it can be made to hold the apron up or suitably taut.

As to the apron and belt it may be noted that the belt might be stitched to the apron and run without clips between two grooved wheels, in which case the wheel which runs on top of the belt could easily be driven by friction Without gears. In this case there would be no clips. In Fig. 12 is shown such a construction without clips.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. A sheet delivery apparatus for printing machines provided with shafts and rollers, a delivery apron on the rollers, belts provided with clips for engaging the apron, pulleys -for the belts mounted on the shafts of the rollers but separate from the rollers so as to be adjustable for smoothing the apron, and fixing screws for holding the pulleys with the apron smoothed.

2. A sheet delivery apparatus for printing machines comprising rollers provided with a delivery apron, a belt spaced from the apron for holding the same smooth, clips connected to the apron and loosely engaging the belt, and flanged guiding wheels for the belts and clips, said clips being seated in the flanged portions of the wheels and made to rotate at a somewhat different speed "from the rollers.

3. A sheet delivery for printing machines comprising a reciprocating carriage, an apron, a wire supported on the carriage over the apron to maintain a sheet thereon, and a sheet-pressing finger pivoted to the wire and made to fall onto the sheet.

4. A sheet delivery for printing machines comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with axles and wheels, an apron, a set-screw in a bracket on one of the axles, a wire engaged by the set-screw and hooked over the opposite axle, and a sheet-pressing finger carried by the wire.

5. A. sheet delivery for printing machines comprising an apron and a carriage provided with axles and wheels, a bracket with a setscrew clamped to one of the axles, a wire clamped to the brackets and having a hook portion made to engage the opposite axle, sheet-engaging wheels provided with arms swinging on the bracket, and a sheet-ongaging "linger swinging on the wire, said wire being held to overlie the sheet.

6. A sheet delivery for printing machines comprising a carriage provided with roller and wheel, an apron carried on the roller, a belt for the apron carried by the wheel, a shaft parallel to the roller and provided with a grooved pulley 'lor guiding the belt, and gears for uniting the shaft and roller.

7. A sheet delivery for printing machines comprising a carriage and apron, a belt with clips engaging the apron, grooved wheels for controlling the clips, and gears made to engage one another and mounted on the axles of the grooved wheels.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE Pv FENNER.

lVitnesses W. E. ALLYN, W. E. SHERMAN. 

